Prayer for the Day

by Revd Canon David White

12th April 2026 - 2nd Sunday of Easter

Risen Jesus, we thank you for your greeting,
‘Peace be with you’
The shalom of God, deep lasting peace;
peace that brings inner calms inner calm;
that keeps a person steady in the storm;
that faces the persecutor without fear
and proclaims the good news with courage and with joy.
This is the peace that reconciles
sister to brother, black to white,
rich and poor, young and old;
but not a peace that is quiet
in the face of oppression and injustice.
This is peace with God,
the peace which passes understanding.  Amen.

When Jesus first appears to his disciples after the resurrection they are hiding in an upper room fearful that the authorities that have crucified Jesus will come for them next. Jesus calms their fears by his simple greeting – ‘Peace be with you’. Peace is his offering to them and also his reminder of what his ministry and the whole kingdom of God is about. From that moment on they become self-confident and assured of their task and role in the world. This prayer, by John Johansen-Berg, expresses well that Easter peace of which Jesus spoke. It is described here as ‘the Shalom of God’ and though the Hebrew word shalom is often translated as meaning ‘peace; it is also so much more than that. The rest of the prayer tries to convey the meaning of that simple word but the truth is no words can fully and adequately describe it.

Our world and our society are in need of peace, but even more they are in need of shalom – a peace which involves and includes not only reconciliation but also healing as well.